Birmingham City Council meets with Congresswoman Sewell, approves funding for public transportation
By Cody Owens
Before Tuesday’s Birmingham City Council meeting, U.S. Congresswoman Terri Sewell met with councilors to discuss legislative efforts in Washington.
One of the achievements was a bill she introduced, HR 2978 — known as the Voting Rights Advancement Act. The goal of the bill is to “restore full protections of the Voting Rights Act of 1965 for voters in states with a recent history of discrimination,” according to Sewell.
An initiative that Sewell pushed for that impacted Birmingham directly was her effort to have the Birmingham Civil Rights District be designated as a National Monument. Sewell said she began working with stakeholders and policy makers in 2015 to try muster support for the designation.
In 2017, through the Antiquity Act, President Obama added the district to the National Register of Historic Monuments. The National Parks Service subsequently invested roughly $1.5 million in civil rights sites in Birmingham and Selma.
An important aspect of federal funding and support in Birmingham is the continuation of tax credits for historic buildings, an effort that Sewell has also been vocal about. “It’s critical we find funding sources to revitalize the A.G. Gaston Motel,” Sewell said. “I’ve taken a personal interest in funding from the Department of the Interior. As I see it, if I help them boost their budget by $20 million, you better believe entities in my district are going to be applying for that grant money. The Sixteenth Street Baptist Church got $500,000, for instance.”
The meeting came on the heels of a brief government shutdown after Republican and Democratic leadership in Washington could not agree on a continuing resolution measure in time to avoid a shutdown; issues like immigration and how to fund children’s healthcare proved to be the major stumbling blocks. On Monday, an agreement was reached to keep funding governmental operations until Feb. 8, 2018 and was signed by President Donald Trump.
Councilor Lashunda Scales asked Sewell what the government shutdown means for local municipalities, like Birmingham, and how residents might be affected. For those receiving social security or disability benefits, those payments would not be impacted, however, new applicants could see a delay.
Sewell said that the Congress “needs to find a long-term solution, not four-week extensions” for government funding. ”These continuing resolutions cause issues with the military. I’m afraid we’re going to be back in the same predicament on Feb. 8. But I’m very glad the government is open in DC and CHIP was authorized for six years. I don’t play in the blame game but the reality is one party controls all three branches of government.”
Speaking about the importance of cooperation, councilors highlighted the how crucial it is to be able to work with congressional leadership to achieve mutual goals.
Council President Pro Tem Jay Roberson brought up the safety issue revolving around blockages at railroad crossings throughout the city. “We’ve seen a tremendous blockage of intersections in my district and throughout the city with CSX and Norfolk Southern. It’s been a disaster over the last two months, with people getting to work and school on time. This past week, all the trains were backed up from the western area to the eastern area. Your help would be greatly appreciated.”
Councilor Sheila Tyson brought up the issue of healthcare not being readily available for low-income families and indigent patients. “With Cooper Green being a clinic now, there is an overflow of people coming into emergency rooms because they need some kind of medical attention, not necessarily for an emergency. It is impacting the way the whole city provides healthcare and we’re seeing major issues.”
Before the meeting wrapped up, Sewell directed councilors to her office if they need help with applying for federal grants. “We represent the same people. This is me letting you all know we’re here for whatever you need,” Sewell said.
Council Meeting
The Birmingham City Council unanimously approved a three-year agreement with the Birmingham-Jefferson Transit Authority to allocate $10.8 million annually to assist with fixed transit route services within the city limits. While this is the amount that has been allocated for the last six years, some councilors raised issue with the fact they feel like the city should be giving more money for public transportation.
“We’re not funding transit to the tune it needs to be,” Councilor Steven Hoyt said. “I know Bus Rapid Transit is coming but that is only a partial solution to the problem. If we start to take transit seriously we won’t lose out on these companies who are looking to come here. Transit is a public service. It doesn’t exist to make a profit. It’s for people to get to work or the doctor on time. So when we sit down to talk about the budget we need to revisit transit. Birmingham itself needs to increase the service we have within the city limits and I hope that is something you will consider.”
Mayor Randall Woodfin agreed with Hoyt’s notion and said he is open to talk to the council about increasing future funding for public transit. Councilor Scales also raised questions about what she described as “not enough funding” for public transportation, especially since Birmingham will be hosting the 2021 World Games in three years.
“This contract is for three years. And if all we’re going to keep giving $10.8 million, how are we making improvements? If this is what we’re going to invest, just know when things break down, we’re in a three-year agreement. We talk about transit a lot and we don’t seem to get there. I have a concern that we have the same amount of money.”
BJCTA Director Barbara Murdoch was in attendance on Tuesday and said she had reviewed and signed the contract.
The council also approved an item reallocating $100,000 from Legion Field improvements to the Office of the Mayor. Councilor William Parker, who chairs the Parks and Rec Committee, said the funding had been “parked in the Capital Fund” and the vote was to move the money to another line item.
“This is an effort to try and attract millions of dollars for tourism and economic development,” Parker said. “We have a very good chance to secure money for improvements and economic development in that area during this upcoming legislative session.”
Councilor Lashunda Scales took issue with the money being moved, saying the city has a responsibility to keep funding Legion Field in a way that benefits the residents and the major asset owned by the city.
“I didn’t want this on the consent agenda because I want to go on record and say I don’t support anything that neglects our own facility to go pay for someone else’s project,” Scales said. “It was negotiated that the World Games are going to be at Legion Field…If we invest in that area it will be see the same improvements as downtown, Avondale and all those other areas. I’d love to see us look at some actual funding for Legion Field. Lastly, let me say this: As we go into this year’s budget, I hope we can put together a comprehensive plan about what we’re going to do with Legion Field.”
